Today on the show Andy is joined by They / Live, a.k.a. Whitney, who talks about her genre-hopping musical journey from country ballads to cool synth pop tunes. She also chats about leaving her Mormon past, the joy of making music videos, and bowl cuts. 

If you like what you’re hearing you can support Beyond Synth on Patreon: www.patreon.com/beyondsynth or PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/beyondsynth

You can check out They / Live here:
https://bornlosersrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nature-structure
https://theyylivve.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XCp2Gx3vkTsKX8fpehHuk
https://www.instagram.com/theyylivve/
https://www.facebook.com/theyylivve
https://bornlosersrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ablation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFjb-fMED1Q

Today’s Tracklist:
They / Live - “Gravity”
They / Live - “Dreamer”
They / Live - “Circles”
They / Live - “For The Pleasure”
They / Live - “Master Melody”
They / Live - “Empire Ennui”
They / Live - “The Garden”

Beyond Synth - 431 - They / Live

Rockambo is a bassist from Mount Pleasant, Washington, DC.

Since the pandemic, he's been writing compositions using MIDI instrumentation (and struggling with latency issues on slow computers). He takes equal parts inspiration from Palladium-era Latin jazz (https://www.facebook.com/groups/LFCE893/), vintage 70s jazz-funk (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv8l4QR862COAotwH_cw9wQ), 00s electronica (https://somafm.com/spacestation/), contemporary lo-fi (https://open.spotify.com/album/2j4Mjok0KmnQ2ENfWIpUKf?si=MuUDlZW9TAuziw5LLmFjvg), and some ethnic music from the countries where he's lived (https://blog.scuolaleonardo.com/2023/04/25/bella-ciao-one-of-the-most-famous-italian-songs-in-the-world-from-the-resistance-to-money-heist/).

Since he can't find his way around a sequencer, he breaks away from repetitive beat loop patterns and seeks to create more organic pieces. Having said that, he only knows how to use a few DAW platforms which are all primarily loop-based ... it's complicated.

All recordings are original compositions recorded using SoundTrap, (http://www.soundtrap.com), and Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org). More recently, he's been mastering tracks in Ableton Live Lite (https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/) and learning how to use MPC Beats (https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-beats) ... he bought some MIDI controllers ... There are no pre-recorded loops. If you are getting into composition, you should grab this (https://www.asio4all.org/).

MIDI is currently being played through an Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 keytar and with a regular ASDF keyboard and a mouse. Rad.

The mixes are low, so turn them up!

Jim Greif says his biggest influence is the Doogie Houser theme song by Mike Post (https://youtu.be/zE4M3hPut7E). 

Rockambo is fluent in neurodiversity and his music is neurodivergent-friendly.

All the appropriate influences are noted where possible. Contact him before using or distributing this material.

Some music-related books worth checking out:
"Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer" by Frank Trocco, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37535.Analog_Days
"How Music Works" by David Byrne, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13235689-how-music-works
"Just Kids" by Patti Smith, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/341879.Just_Kids
"This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession"
by Daniel J. Levitin, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/141565.This_Is_Your_Brain_on_Music
"Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk"
by John Doe, Tom DeSavia
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898106-under-the-big-black-sun

I’m a podcast collaborator making known in these days before Mashiach comes his message of Teshuvah and the way of righteousness and holiness.

The podcast about people who make cool music! BEYOND SYNTH is the best synth music chat show there is. Featuring artists and producers who make synthwave/new-retro/electronic music and much more!!

We talk Music, games, movies, the 80s, and lots more while I play samples of the guests music.

Sound Artist °•○●🦎
 🦣🎛🐺°•●○¤🌌 
Instagram: 2_kuetzpalin

MOON AND ARIES (Jordana and Tom) is a genre-defying, retro-futuristic music duo creating emotionally immersive soundscapes that blur the lines between synth-pop, chill electronica, cinematic soul, trip-hop, and jazz-infused lounge. Combining poetic lyricism with lush production and smooth vocal interplay, their songs feel timeless - yet unmistakably modern. 

Driven by their shared passion for storytelling through sound, Moon and Aries deliver music that connects on a deeply human level. 

Their catalog explores universal themes: 
transformation, empowerment, longing, healing, and spiritual awakening. Whether it’s a quiet moment of self-reflection, a triumphant personal shift, or a love scene that needs to glow from within - Moon and Aries provide the perfect sonic companion. 
Each track is built with sync in mind: strong emotional arcs, memorable melodic hooks, dynamic instrumental sections, and vocal textures that range from intimate whispers to anthemic declarations.  
With a sound often compared to artists like Sade, A-ha, Portishead, Depeche Mode, and Massive Attack, Moon and Aries offer a sonic palette that blends nostalgia with new-world 
optimism - ideal for storytelling that needs depth, mood, and meaning. 
All songs are 100% one-stop and available with full mixes, instrumentals, stems, and lyric sheets.
 
Genres: Retro-Futuristic Pop, Synthpop, Trip-Hop, R&B/Soul, Chill Electronica, Cinematic Soul, Electro-Jazz, Electronic, Retro wave, 80s 

MELODY MEETS MEANING! www.moonandaries.com